Wringer



Aug. 31, 19.43-`v` DE WITT cLAusEN y 2,327,998 4 l WRINGER Filed Oct; 29, -1938 5 Sheets-Sheet l Toqusys Aug. 3l, 1943.

DE WITT cLAusr-:N

- l WRINGER Filed 406's. 29. 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 .WO/,m

OKITTOQN ya Patented Aug. 3l, 1943 T office 'WRINGER f i i ne wat Clausen, Akron, ohiol Application octohees, 193s, serial No. 231,655

' acclaim. lotes-249) `This invention relatesl generally rto wringers for use in connection with household washing machines and the general aim of the invention is to provide a novel wringer having improvedA features of construction for facilitating its manufacturc, operation and maintenance `and for protecting the usera'gainstV injury.

One ofthe major objectsof the inventionis to provide a wringer in which all stresses resultj ing from pressure on the rolls are conned within independent roll-controlling units 4so that the frame and housing ofthe wringer are relieved from such stresses. i i l Another object of the inventionis to provide anew and improved wringer having a jpair of free-floating rolls either of which is shiftable'to effect' anengagement or disengagement between the rolls and in which both rollsy are springpressed to yield in opposite directions as articles pass therebetween. J Another vobject of the invention is to provide a new and improved wringer construction embodying a; single lever operating mechanism for the complete control ofthe wringer.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a new and improved wringer having inherent qualities of safety adapting `it for extremely simple and foolproof operation. l

'Another objectl ofthe invention is to provide a wringerlin which the safety release mechanism is part of` the one-leverbperating mechanism which is habitually -used in the operation of the wringer, vthereby renderingitrthe natural thing' to use for releasingpurposes in case of einergener.` 1 "i l n a It is a further object of the invention'to provvide' a` wringer `embodying* new land' improved means for separating and releasing the pressure between the wringer `rollsand connecting the drive. t, i i

Another object of the'invention4 is to yprovide a new and improved wringer construction in simultaneouslyjdisnumber of parts and a relatively smaller num-` ber of diifering parts.

Another object of the invention residesin theprovision of a wringer embodying a relatively small frame supporting all of the operative structure of the wringer, and a light-weight detachable housing which serves merely to conceal and protect the internal mechanism.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a wringer of .the above 'mentioned type inwhich all stresses due to wringer roll pressure are confined to tension members free floating in the wringer frame whereby the frame may be constructed of light weightto suplport the `weight of the wringer mechanism only..

Another object of the invention is to provide a wringer having a one-lever control for selectively shifting one or the other of the rolls to lestablish a spring-pressed engagement'with the coacting roll, for establishing a drive connection in one directionor the other depending upon which roll is shifted, and for releasing such spring-pressed engagement and driving connection to permit separation and free rotation of the rolls, said last function being easily andv quickly effected by the imposition of a relatively lightv force upon the lever conveniently disposed in a readily accessible position adjacentthe area of feeding clothes to thewringer.-

It isa further object of the inventionto provide a wringer -of this type adapted to be rotatably mounted for horizontal swinging movement upon azstandard washing machineor other laundry equipment, and which embodies anewand improved safetyl indexing device for positively locking the wringer in one of a plurality. of positions against swingingy movement onits support when the drivingfgearsare meshed and to pre-f.A

' vent connection of the drive means when the which aspring-pressed.engagement is established `wringer is free-to swing, saidindexing mechanism being associated with the one-lever controland operated thereby. y y f It is a further object ofthe invention toL pro` vide a vvringerof this type embodying an automaticallyV tiltable drain spout' for directing the flow of water fromlthe lrollstoward the feed `sidek of the'wringer regardless of the directionof ro*-A tation of the rolls. l v i l l It' is a further objectV of the invention tov provide a new and improvedwringer embodying avrelease mechanism which is conveniently accessible. from the side of the wringer from'which clothes arey fed thereto and Which-is operable from either side of thewringer inthe sam'eman-r`4 Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the I operative structure of the wringer o n an enlarged scale with the detachable coverremoved.

Fig. 4 is a detail Iend elevational view in partial section showing the roll-shifting mechanism and bearing cages in roll-disengaged position,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the mechanism in one position for operative roll ensagement.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are diagrammatic views illustrating the mechanism of Figs. 4 and 5 in rolldisengaged position, in roll-engaged position for' rotation of the rolls in one direction, and in rollengaged position for rotation of the rolls in the opposite direction, respectively.

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of cage.

Fig. A10 is a :perspective view of the wringer frame. l

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an alternative wringer frame construction.

Fig. 12 is a detail view in horizontal section taken along line |2-I2 of Fig. 13 showing a slightly modified form .of roll shifting mechanism associated with the alternative frame construction of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a detail view along line I3--I3 Aof Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view in end elevation of an alternative form of roll shifting mechanism a bearing in vertical section taken self-contained within said unit, the size and weight, and therefore the cost of manufacture' of bolted, as at 2l (Fig. 2), to a swinging wringer carrying head 22. The,frame comprises generally a sheet metal channel section having a partially concave web 24, two flanges 25, projecting at `right angles to the web, and inturned flanges 26 paralleling the web and having end plates 21 and 21*al welded or otherwise secured to each end of the channel section.- As indicated in Figs. 4', 5, and 10, the frame is provided at each end with two sets of vertically alined holes 28 in the web 24 and in the flanges 26, to receive` sleeves .28- for guiding two pairs of vertical tension Fien-15 is a view in end elevation of an alternative roll tensioning mechanism.

While the invention isv susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions,l I have shown in the -drawings and will herein describe in detail, the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. i

In prior wringers the stresses and strains caused by the operating pressure'on the rolls have been borne by the wringer frame or parts thereof. Consequently, such frames have necessarily been made of. strong and heavy `construction to withstand the stresses. According to' my invention, the -operating mechanism of the wringer, including the rolls and the means for applying pressure thereto, is constructed as a unit within which all of the operating stresses and pressures dueto roll tensioning are confined. This permits of the use of a supporting base or frame of light, compact construction, since it is required' to support merely the weight of the operating mechanism. The construction also permits of the employment of a separate housing unit to enclose'the pressureapplying means arid to provide a clothes-guide bolts 29.

Four identical bearing cages 30, one of which is 'shown'in Fig. 9, are vertically slidable on said bolts, .two on each pair of bolts, one above the other. The upper cages support the journals 3i of an upper wringer roll 32 and the lower cages support the journals 33 of a cooperating lower roll 34. 'I'he bearing cages being identical, except that the position of the upper cages is inverted relative to that of the lower. cages, a de` .39 has similarly perforated.. legs 40 for receiving the bolts. A pair of, compression springs 4|, interposed between the legs 31 and 40, tend to force the yokes apart and, as indicated, said springs may surround the bolts for compactness of structure. The yokes are tied together with the Asprings under -suitable compression by a pair of headed pins 43 extending through and between the legs of the yokes preventing separation thereof but permitting relative approaching movement of the yokes to allow the bearings to yield against the compression of the springs upon roll engagement. The pins 43 are likewise disposed within the coiled springs 4I for compactness. Two yokes 44 beneath the frame are apertured to slide upon the pairs of bolts 29, being held in place by nuts 45 on said bolts. y l

Means is provided for controlling the positions of the bearing cages and the rolls therein, which means comprises cams associated with the bearing cages in such a manner that all stresses due to roll pressure are transmitted from one roll to the other through the' tension bolts 29 to opposite sides of the cams, thereby confining the stresses to the roll-shifting and pressure-applying units and relieving the supporting frame therefrom. The extreme upper and lower yokes 39 and 44, respectively, and the bolts 29 constitute a sub-frame which is bodily shiftable as a u nit relative to the main frame and the units are thus free-floating and self-contained and permit; the rolls to shift independently of each other.

The control means comprises a cam shaft 46 journaled at 41 in the end plates 21 and 21 of the frame, and having a pair of plate cams 48 xed thereto near each end thereof between the lower bearing cages and the yokes 44,

As indicated in Fig. 4, the lower yokes 39 of the lowerbearing cages coact with and ride on theV d wringer carrying head. 22. The head 22 comworking surfaces of the cams for supportingthe weight and controlling the movement o'f said lower roll and its bearingv'cages, the web 24 -of the frame-being `apertured at 49 to permitsuch coprises a metal casting apertured at 2l, as menytioned heretofore, `for the purpose of bolting the Cil.

action. A pair of light-weight sprinesfi50 are mounted'between the upper and lower cages to normally urge the rolls apartv under a relatively light pressure and to support the weightof` the `upper roll andk its associated partsonthe lower roll when the rollsv are disengaged. 'In this posi- Vtionthe bolts `29 are supportedby their -headed i portions 5l on the outer yoke of the upper cages and tl'ieyokesA 44 are supported therebyfor smilar coaction with the opposite working surface of the cam,

, Each cam' is providedwith a peripheral work-*- ing. curve having a segment 52 substantially concentric with its axis of rotation, a `segment' 53 vraised to provide the desired roll-shifting movement, rand two diametricallyy opposed segments 54 and 55 slightly loweredto provide seats in which the yokes 39. and 44, respectively, normally rest whenthe rolls are disengaged. Thel cams are rotatable in either' directionto shift the rolls into .pressure engagement' and.` as indicated in Fig. 5, rotation of the `'cams in oney direction` raises the lower roll bearing cages, while the yokes 44 ride on the concentric segmentsof the cams,

and, through the agency of the bolts, holdthe lupper roll-bearing cages againstupward movement. Thus the cams. inefect. act as wedgesv `be tweerrthe'lower bearing cages and the `voke 44 `forcing the rolls into spring-pressed `engagement. The pressure between the rolls is transmitted through the rolls, roll journals, bearings, theyokes 36. the springs 4I, and the yokes 39'to the bolts directly from the upper roll and through the control cam and yoke44 from the lower roll. It will be apparent that each cam is embraced by a pair of opposed cam engaging surfaces associated respectively with. the individual'roll-supportingunits for the upper and lower rolls. so

. that, when the surfaces are spread apart by the n cams, the rolls will be tensioned. Thecam thus frame thereto andthe lower end of said'head khas an enlarged flanged base 58 anda depending sleeve porti0r1'59. The head is rotatably seated on a stationary tubular post Enhaving a cooperating hanged bearingportion 6I upon which the base 58 rests and into which the sleeve 59 extends. The power shaft is arranged. to be 4con 'n'ected with a suitable source of power, such as a 4end of the power shaft, whichA gear is in constant servesmerely to carry the weight and control the roll movement and. upon engagement. is self- .locking and receives a substantially equal and op- 'posite compressive strain on its opposite faces.'

The control cams may'likewlse be rotated in the other direction (counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 4) todraw the upperroll downwardly for engagement with the lower roll through the agency of the yokes 44. bolts'and upper bearing ,cages while the lower roll bearing cagesv remain substantiallyv stationary. A` very Asmall upward movementis imparted-to` the' lower roll as the slightly raised segmentf52 ofthecam 48 comes.

into contact with the yoke 39. lThus either roll'is bodily rshiftable toward the ccact'inggroll to effect an engagement `in which'both rolls are springpressed to yield in yopposite directions.` It is an important-feature of the invention to utilize this optional movement of the rolls to'r establish a drive `connection in one direction when one roll is shifted and to drive the' relis in theopposite direction when the other roll is shifted, whereby thedirection ofrotation of the rolls may be r'eversed `for feeding clothes theretofrom either,

side of the wringen The exemplary wringerherein disclosed being' of i the swinging type well known'in theart, the drive mechanism 551s, inpart, of conventional form and, as shown-ini Fig. 2, embodies a power shaft 51,1 introduced vthrough the 'rotatable '-drive shaft of a household washing machine, and

extends vertically through the post 60, sleeve 59 and into the head 22, whereinit is journaled by means of abearing 62 in the head. A horizontally disposed 4bevel gear 63 is fixed to the upper mesh with a take-off bevel gear 64 fixed to a horizontal stub shaft journaled in a bearing 56 of said' wringer carrying head. 'Ihe inner ends of theroll shafts 3l and 433 are extended somewhat "beyond the limits of the'bearing cages and have ilxed ontheir ends pinions 6l and 68, respectively, adapted to mesh with a pinion ii9iflxed on the shaft 65. wAs illustrated in Figs. 2, 6, 7 and', it

\ will be seen that, upon shifting the lower roll into `engagement withthe upper roll, the pinion will mesh Iwith the pinion 59 to positively rotate the -lower-rol1, which will normally `rotate the upper `roll by reason of the frictional tensioned' engagement ,therebetween` Upon optionalshifting'of the upper roll the pinion 61 will mesh with the Y pinion 69 to drive the rolls in the opposite direction. In this manner'the rolls are made to ro-v tate in opposite directions even thoughy each roll,

when'engaged with the driving pinion, always yturns in the'sarne direction. When clothes pass through the wringer the rolls are separated under pressure and each roll movesv an equal amount up and down. -As both rolls are equally springpressed, they" merely iioat' with the varying y amount of` the thickness of .the material passing therethrough, thus eliminating `the necessity of one roll Ytakingall the movement which might tend to force the pinions out of engagement.

This form Aof drive connection results in a simple and compact unit, in that the necessity of employing reversing gears or a clutch mechanism is obviated. Both rolls may be positively driven, if desired. I n either event the rolls are free to Y rotate after releasing.

The cams as illustrated are mounted beneath the rolls and bearing cages but it is`to be undery'stood that the same principle may be applied where the cam shaft vis otherwise positioned, or

where two cam shafts are employed as illustrated alternatively `iii-Fig. 14. In such an arrangement the movement of the rolls is under the control of separate 'sets of cams 'I9 and 1l, the sets being carried' on separate cam shafts 12 and 'I3 respectively. In the event that such construction were employed,`a control lever for each cam shaft would be provided vand movement of eachy roll would be independently controlled by a separate control lever. l

I, At the inner end offthecam shaft 46 a rigid extension 8l is detachably connected` therewith, said` extension having an oval-shaped collar portion 82 (Fig. 3) for circumjacently.,straddling the drive shaft51. The freeend ofthe` extension llly has a pair ofears ytbet'ween which'a control lever` 8,0 is pivotally supportedfat 91. f

The control lever extends arcuately'up over ,the inner end of the wringer and is thus conveniently accessible for manipulation by the operator. Se-

notches 92.

lective manipulation of the lever from its roll disengaged position, above the wringer. (as seen in full outline in Fig. 1) to either side of the wringer adiacent4 the clothes-feeding area (as seen in dotted outline) will shift one rol1`or the other for establishing tensioned roll engagement and a driving connection, so as 'to cause rotation of the l r`olls in one direction-or the other depending upon which way the lever is shifted. The direction of rotation of the driving gear 69 causes rotation of the roll with which it is meshed in such a direction that clothes'may be fed' to the wringer from .the side to which the lever is shifted.`

'In this arrangement the lever is readily accessible to the operator within a few inches of the feed area for quickly and easily releasing the roll pressure and the drive in case of .emergency and, in this connection, it will be seen-that the length of the control lever is several times that of the maximum throw of the cams so that only a relative light force need be imposed thereon Iorreleasing. Such releasing movement is further facilitated by theshape and location of the cams relative to their following parts. positions the cams need be moved only a small fraction of an inch to initiate the releasing movement after which they are automatically cammed the rest of the way out of engaged position by the following yokes (see Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8). The control lever thus serves in addition as an eilicient safety yrelease mechanism and, being habitually usedin the operation of the wringer, thereg by becomes the natural thing to use for releasing purposes in emergencies. A modified form of control lever 85, as shown in Fig. 1, extends the entire length of the wringer and is connected with the cam shaft at both ends.

The control lever has two other functions. The cam shaft which it operates has fixed thereto, by straps 86 (Fig. 2), a drain spout 81, which is positively and automatically tilted when the shaft is rotated, for directing the iiow of water from the rolls toward the feed side of the wringer regardless of the direction of rotation of the rolls. 'The shaft is offset for compactness of structure, asindicated at 88 in Figs. 2 and 3, and the drain spout is` secured on the offset portion thereof beneath the frame. The web 24 of the frame is dished or hollowed out, as indicated at 89, for catching the drain water from the rolls and directing it to an aperture 90 in the center of the frame which opens to the drain spout.

The control lever serves also as an actuating control in conjunction with a safety indexing device 9| for the dual purpose of locking the wringer in one of a plurality of positions against swinging movementv on its support when the gears are meshed, and for preventing the establishment of a driving connection between the power sourc'e and the rolls when the wringer is free to swing. In the peripheral face of the anged portion 6I of the post 60, a plurality of notches or indents 92 are formed to receive the latching end 93 of a detent lever 94 pivoted on the base of the wringer head at 95. A coiled spring 96 seated in the wringer head normally urges the latching end 93 of the lever into .the notches 92 from which said en d may be moved by actuating the lever against the force of the spring 96. The wringer carrying head thus may be swung to any desired position and locked-in said position, through the medium of the detent 94 with its latching The control lever 80 i's pivoted in such a manner that it may swing about the axis of the cam From `their roll-engaged end 93 inthel shaftV and also may swing lengthwise thereof. Beneath the pivotal point 91, an integral nger vportion 98 is formed on the lever 80 for cooperation with and actuation of the detent 94. As the lever 8D is swung away from the wringer (as indicated in dotted outline in Fig. 2), in a vertical plane, the linger 98 actuates the detent/to release its latching end from the notches 92 and permit swinging of the wringer. When the lever 80 is thus rotated the linger 98 integral therewith enters a notch 99 in the carrying head to prevent rotation of the cam shaft by the lever and, when the lever can be actuated for rotation of the cam shaft, the linger 98 will not cooperate with the detent to move it out of latched position. Thus when the lever is actuated to establish a driving connection there is no possibility of releasing the wringer for swinging movement and when the wringer is Afree to swing the lever cannot be actuated to establish a driving connection:

It will be apparent that .the complete operation of the wringer is under the. control of a singlev lever which establishes a driving connection with the rolls in either direction, applies and releases the spring pressure, stops the rolls from turning,

separates the rolls to a fixed distance, operates the drain spout and indexes the wringer to any particular operating position.

Means affording protection and concealment o1' the wringer mechanism are provided in the form of an independent removable housing I 09 which i y rolls, whereby any wrapping of clothes around the rolls may be detected immediately. The housing is provided with inwardly projecting hooks |03 for cooperation with eyes |04 ilxed :to the frame 20 for holding the housing in position. The housing thus is easily removable by a simple lift to expose the wringer mechanism for inspection or repair,

In this connection it will be apparent that the entire'wringer is characterized by a simplicity of construction, being built of sub-assemblies, such that its assembly and dismantling is extremely simple. After lifting the housing |99 all that is required for the removalvof the rolls and their associated bearing cages and tension means is to unscrew the four nuts 45 beneath the frame and lift out the sub-assemblies. 'Ihe frame may rbe easily removed from the carrying head by releasing the bolts` 2| therebetween and withdrawing the cam shaft 49 from the extension 8l.

Referring to Figs. 11, 12 and 13, an alternative form of wringer frame H2 is illustrated wherein the. bearing cages are guided in their sliding movement by side stiles H0 and IH integral with Vbers to receive the stress due to wringer roll pressure.

l said rolls are journaled; bearing cages in sup- A modied form -of roll tensioning means is to shift the lower roll 34 upwardly for engagement with the upper roll 32.' Such shifting movement compresses the springs H1 through the agency of an upper roll bearing support H9,

bolts 29 and a lower yoke 120 acting on the Springs. Rotation of the cam in a counter-clockwise direction shifts the upper roll downwardly forI pressure vengagement with the lower roll through' the-agency of the yoke 44, springs lll, yoke |20, bolts 29; and yoke II9. It Will be apparent that the roll shifting and tensioning operations of this modied form involve substantially the identical principles as described heretofore in connection with Figs. '4 and 5, the upper roll bearing cage springs being transplanted to a position beneath theframeand the lower` roll bearing'cage springs being eliminated. The latter springs might be included,A if desired, to permit yielding of the lower roll as articles pass between the rolls. However. it is to be understood that the principles of the present invention might well be applied to a wringer construction having no roll tensioning springs'at all and wherein the rolls are of the proper composition to impart suicient resiliency to the pressure engagement to permit yielding thereof as articles pass therebetween.

I claim as my invention:

1. A wringer having, in combination, a pair of rolls each mounted for independent movement toward and away from the other, means for applying spring pressure to urge the rolls into oper ative engagement, 'and means operative selectively to shift either oi the rolls into engagement with the yother in its substantially unshifted position.

2. A wringer comprising, in combination, a pair oi' wringer rolls, means for mounting each roll for relative movement toward and away from the other, spring means acting on one roll to urge that roll toward the other, and means operable for selectively moving either roll into operative engagement with the other.

3. A wringer comprising, in combination, a pair ofcooperating rolls, bearings in which said rolls are joumaled, spring means acting on the bear ings of each roll to urge each roll towardthe i other, means for mounting the bearings and spring means associated with the respective rolls for relative shifting movement thereof as units toward and away from each other, and control means operative selectively to shift either of the units toward the other while holding that other substantially stationary to establish a yieldable spring pressed engagement between the rolls.

4. A wringer comprising, in combination, a frame, a pair of cooperating wringer rolls, a pair of free floating bearing cages in support of each roll and slidable in said frame, each of said rolls and its associated bearing cages being shiftable `toward and away from the other, and resilient means within said cages and slidable therewith, said means being tensio'ned upon operative engagement oi the rolls to permit both rolls to yield as articles pass therebetween.

5. A wringer comprising, in combination, a pair of wringer rolls; supporting bearings in which port of said bearings; and means for mounting each roll and its associated bearing cages for sliding movement toward and away from the other; each of said cages including a yoke in sup port of a bearing, a spring abutment spaced from said yoke, and spring means acting between said abutment and said yoke, whereby to maintain a yieldable operative pressure between the rolls upon engagement.

6. A wringer comprising, in combination, a pair of cooperating wringer rolls; a frame; a pair of bearing cages supporting each roll and vertically slidable in each end of said frame; each of said cages including a spring abutment, a wringer roll bearing and spring means interposed between said abutment and said bearing' to urge each roll toward the roll cooperating therewith; and a single manipulable means operativevselectively to shift the abutments associated with one or the other of the rolls to eiect operative pressure between the rolls.

'7. A wringer comprising, in combination, a main supporting frame; a pair of coactingrolls; two roll-supporting units located at opposite ends of said rolls and supported by said frame; each of said units including a sub-frame which is guided for shifting movement relative to said main frame, bearings for .said rolls, 'and spring means for exerting pressure on the rolls, the bearings for one of said rolls being shiftable with the sub-frames as a wholeand the bearings for the other roll having a relative slidable relationship to the respective sub-frames, and means for selectively shifting the latter bearings or the subframes andthe opposing bearings to move 'said rolls into and out of operative relation.

8. A wringer comprising, in combination, a support, a pair of coacting rolls, two pairs of shiftable bearings for the respective rolls, means for mounting said bearings Von said support, means for exerting pressure on said bearings, and a one lever operating means coacting with opposed parts of said mounting means` and serving selectively to move either pair of said bearings toward or away from the other for shifting said rolls into and out of operative relation.

9. A ringer comprising, in combination, a pair of coacting rolls, two pairs of shiftable bearings in which said rolls are respectively journaled, an actuating device, means associated with said bearings and operated by said actuating device for shifting either pair of rsaid bearings toward the other to bring said rolls into engagement when said actuating device is operated, and means for exerting spring pressure upon said rolls when they arebrought into such engagement.

l0. A wringer comprising, in combination, a pair of coacting rolls, two pairs of shiftable bearing units in which said rolls arerespectively journaled, at least one pair of said units being elastic to permit'yielding of their roll relative to the opposing roll, means for guiding said units in their relative shifting movements, and means acting upon both pairs of said units for selectively shifting one or the other pair to move the rolls therein toward or away from each other.

11. A wringer` comprising, in combination, a

-pair of coacting rolls, a pair of upper and a pair of'lowei bearing cages in which said rolls are journaled, each of `said cages having spring means for exerting pressure on said rolls when in engagement, spring means acting to urge the respective upper and lower cages apart, tension to receive within itself the means connecting the respective upper and lower cages and acting to limit such separating movement of said cages, and means for shifting either the upper or lower pair ofcages toward or away from the other pair to move the rolls into and out of spring pressed engagement.

12. A wringer comprising, in combination, a

l pair of coacting rolls, two pairs of opposed bear- V supporting frame; a pair of coacting rolls; means carried by said frame for supporting said rolls to permit shifting of either roll toward the other: said means comprising two units located at the ends of the rolls, each of said units embodying opposed bearings in which the rolls are journaled, spring means for exerting pressure on said bearings when said ings toward the, other to eiect such springpressed engagement, each unit'being constructed thrust of said springpressure 'exerting means, without transmitting such thrust to said supporting frame.

14. A wringer comprising, in combination, a pair of rolls, two pairs of bearings in which said rolls are respectively journaled, each pair. being independently shiftable toward and away from the other, means operable selectively to shift either pair of bearings to carry either roll into pressure engagement with the other, and means associated with the bearings and with the operating means and serving to receive the thrust resulting from the pressure on the rolls.

15. A wringer comprising, in combination, a pair of coacting rolls, two pairs of bearing units in which said rolls are-respectively journaled, each pair of said units being shiftable relative to the other to bring said rolls into engagement, each of said units being elastic to exert pressure on the rolls upon engagement, resilient means acting vto urge the respective pairs of units apart, operating means for shifting either pair of units toward the other pair to move the rolls into pressure engagement, and tension means associated with the bearing units and with means and acting to limit the separating movement of theunits and serving, to receive the thrust created by the pressure between the rolls.

16. A wringer comprising, in combination, .a frame, a pair of coacting rolls, two pairs of opposed bearing .cages spectively jounaled, said cages being shiftable in said frame, and being elastic to exert pressure on the rolls upon engagement, resilient means acting to urge the respective pairs of cages apart,

the 4operating thus actuated to receive the roll pressure independently of said frame.

17,. -A wringer comprising, pairof cooperating wringer rolls each' mounted for movement toward and away from the other, means forselectively shifting eitherl roll, and driving means engageable'by movement of the shifted roll to drive the rolls in lone direction or the other depending upon which roll is shifted. 18. A wringer comprising, in combination, a pair of cooperating wringer rolls, each mounted for movement perpendicularly toward and away from the axis of the other, means for selectively moving either roll into pressure engagement with the other, vand driving means engageable by movement of the in one direction or the other depending upon which roll/is shifted.

a1i9. A wringer comprising, in combination, a p r ment for each roll, each of said elements being operable independently of the other element, a drivingelement common to said individual driven elements, means for selectively shifting one or the other of the individual driven elements into direct engagement with the common driving element to effect the feed of clothes in one direcrolls are in engagement, and v means for shifting either of the opposed beartion or the other depending upon which individual driven element is shifted.

20. A wringer comprising, 1n combinationy.

support, a pairof coacting rolls, bearing means carried by said support for mounting both of said rolls for bodily shifting movement, a comm0n driving pinion element, driven pinions for rotating the respective rolls, and means for shifting said bearing means to carry either one of said driven pinions into driving engagement with said common driving pinion.

21. A wringer comprising, in combination, a support, a pair of coacting rolls journaled for bodily shifting movement relative to said support, a common driving element, a driven element on each f said rolls, each of said elements being operable independently of the other element, and means for shifting one. or the other of said rolls to carry said driven element thereon into direct driving engagement with said common driving element.

22. A Wringer comprising, in combination, a pair of cooperating wringer rolls either of which is shiftable toward Lthe other to effect a pressure engagement between the rolls, a driving element on each roll, a driving element having a fixed position and engageable by the driving element on the shifted roll to drive the rolls in one direction or the other depending which roll is shifted,

and manipulable means for selectively shifting in which said rolls are reeither roll to effect engagement or disengagement of the driving elements.

23. A wringer comprising, in combination, a pair of cooperating wringer rolls, roll supporting means shiftably mounted for engaging movement of each roll toward the other, means for applying pressure to the rolls upon engagement thereof, and control means for: shifting either roll for engagement with the other while holding that other substantially stationary, said control means an actuating device, means associated with said l including a'rotatable cam having an operative -connection with both roll supporting means such that said 'cam receives' equal and -opposite roll pressures from the rolls upon engagement.

24. A wringer comprising, in combination, a frame, a pair of cooperating wringer rolls, individual roll-'supporting means shiftably mounted in said frame for relative engaging and disin combination, a

shiftedl roll to drive the rolls of coacting rolls, an individual driven eleengaging movement of the rolls toward and away from each other, control means for selectively shifting either roll-supporting means to move its 'roll into engagementl with the other roll, said control means including a camengaging surface for one roll-supporting means spaced from the i axis of the roll supported thereby, a second camengaging surface for the other roll-supporting means disposed in a plane intermediate the first and away from each other, an actuator therefor,-

said means each having .portions embracing a rigid part of said actuator in such relation that when said portions are spread by said actuator the rolls will be drawn together, and means for operating said actuator.

26. A wringer comprising, in combination, a-

pair of coacting rolls, individual roll supports for each roll, said supports being slidable to permit relative movement of the rolls toward and away from each other, resilient means tending to urge the rolls apart, cam engaging surfaces on each of said supports, said surfaces being disposed in overlapping spaced relation to each other so that the separation tendency of the rolls tends to close the space between said surfaces. and a cam interposed between said surfaces to limit the amount of roll separation, said cam being rotatable to further separate said surfaces for drawing the rolls together.

27. A wringer comprising, in combination, a frame, a pair of coacting rolls, individual roll supporting units slidable in said frame to permit each roll to shift relative to the other, resilient means tending to separate the units, each of said units having a cam engaging surface overlapping and disposed in spaced relation to each other.

and a cam interposed between said surfaces and 50 selectively rotatable in said frame to further separate the surfaces for shifting either roll into pressure engagement with the other, said cam having a working curve such that when rotated to a roll engaged position it is in stable equi` librium and only a slight rotation back initiates releasing movement after which the separating tendency of the units .automatically completes the releasing movement.

28. A wringer comprising, in combination. a pair of coacting rolls mounted for shifting movement toward and away from each other for engagement and disengagement, resilient means acting between the respective rolls and tending at all times to separate the rolls, means limiting the separating movement, and control means for shifting the rolls into pressure engagement and releasable to permit limited separation of the rolls.

29. A wringer comprising, in combination, a pair of cooperating rolls each mounted for shifting movement into and out of engagement with the other; roll tensioning means operable upon engagement of the rolls; and manually operable cam means for shifting the rolls, said cam means having one position of adjustment in which the rolls are disengaged, a second position in which one roll is shifted for engagement with the other roll and a third position in which said other roll is shifted to engage said one roll.

30. A wringer comprising, in combination, a vertical standard. a wringer frame rotatably supported for swinging movementon said standard. a pair of coacting rolls journaled in said frame for shifting movement of either roll for engagement'with the other, driving means engageable by movement of the shifted roll to drive the rolls in one direction or the other depending upon which roll is shifted, resilient means effective to tension the rolls upon engagement thereof, a single lever control means for shifting either x'oll into and out of yieldable pressure engagementwith the other. a tiltable drain spout having a connection with said control-means and automatically tiltable thereby toone side` of the wringer or thev other-depending -`upon the direction of rotation of the rolls, latching means for indexing the wringer frame in one of a plurality of positions on said standard and means associated with said lever and operated thereby for releasing the latching means only when the rolls are disengaged and for preventing engagement'. of the rolls by the lever when it is actuated for releasing the latching means, whereby the complete operation of the wringer is controlled by a single lever.

31. A laundry wringer comprising, in combination, a pair of wringer rolls, either roll being shiftable to eiect an operative pressme engagement with the other, driving means engageable by movement of the shifted roll to drive the rolls in one direction or the other depending upon which roll is shifted, a single lever control means for selectively shifting either roll into engagement with the other, saidmeans having a normal roll-disengaged position in which the lever assumes a position above the wringer rolls, said means having two roll-engaged positions, one in which one roll is shifted to rotate the 5. rolls in one direction, clothes being fed thereto from one side of the wringer, and a second position in which the other roll is shifted to rotate the rolls in the opposite direction, clothes being fed thereto from the other side of the wringer, said roll-engaged positions being effected by shifting the lever selectively to the side of the wringer from which it is desired to feed the clothes and to a point adjacent the feeding area convenient of access to the operator for releasing in case of emergency.

32. A wringer comprising, in combination, a pair of coacting rolls, a frame in which said rolls are shiftably mounted for engaging movement of either roll toward the other, driving means engageable by movement of the shifted roll to drive the rolls in one direction or the other depending upon which roll is shifted, control means for shifting either roll to eiect a pressure engagement with the other, and a drain spout having an operative connection with said control means and automatically tiltable thereby l ment with the other,a tiltable drain spout beneath said rolls, and a connection between said drain spout and said shifting means for auto` matically inclining said spout toward one Aside of the wringer or the-other depending upon which roll is shifted. f

34. A wringer comprising, in combination, a frame, a pair of coacting rolls journaled vfor rotation in said frame, driving means for said rolls,'means including a rotatable shaft extending longitudinally of. and, beneath said rolls for selectively controlling the direction of rotation of said rolls', and a drain spout xed shaft and automatically .tiltable thereby for directing the ow of drain water from the rolls toward the side of the wringer clothes are fed thereto.

35. A wringer comprising, in combination, a supporting frame, a pair of cooperating wringer rolls, a. pair of 'supporting bearings for each roll, spring means acting on said bearings to urge each`roll-ftoward the other, and rigid tension from which l frame.

said frame and'mounted to receive at opposite ends thereof the reacting force of the spring means associated with the respective rolls, `wherelzvy said tension means is subjected to equal and opposite stresses imparted thereto by the roll pressure through said spring means, thereby eliminating all stresses due to wringer roll pressure meansfree floating in 36. AI wringer comprising, in combination, a pair of cooperating 4Wringer rolls each mounted for movement toward and away from the other,

means for a-driving pinion having its axis disposed intermediate the axes of said rolls, and driven pinions on each of said rolls, said driven pinions being engageable selectively with said driving pinion for driving'the rolls in one direction or the other depending upon which-roll is shifted.

DE WITT CLAUSEN.

from said supporting selectively shifting either roll into CERTIFICATE 0FV CORREC'/{OILY Patent No. 2,527,998. I Augqsc' 51, 1915..'

' DE wrm' cLAUsEN.

It is hereby certified that error appeers in the printed specification of the abo've numbered patent Vrequiring correction as fo1lows:. Page 6,' sec-I t ond column, line 5h., claim 20, after "pinionI strike out element-#1; and that the said Letters Patent should be readw-ith this' correction therein' fthat the same may conform to the 'record ofthe case in the Patent Office.

signed and sealed this 9th day of November, A. n. 191g.

Henry Van Arsdale,

l (Seal) Acting Commis sinner I of Patents. 

